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Tutorial

Introduction to Subject

Is becoming friends with a student on social media acceptable or is it crossing the line? Yahoo.com recently posted a video that might help you make your decision of if it is acceptable or not.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Youth can further explore topics that they’re interested in through online social networking. By making connections with other people who have the same interest, kids can learn and exchange knowledge with others they may not have had the opportunity to interact with.

Pro: According to the article, “Connecting with Students Online,” the authors suggest that it can be beneficial for students and teachers so long as there are boundaries that are made clear.

Con: They also warn of possible pitfalls such as: Failing to maintain proper boundaries, student misperceptions of the teacher/student platonic relationship, beginning conversations that become too personal and off the topic of education, and teachers misusing technology to begin improper relationships with students.

The authors also say that this leaves teachers with a new obligation to be aware of anything that may affect the school, the student’s education, or any other person’s safety.

They also note that this is the way that students generally converse at present, and that if it is used correctly and schools follow policies to protect anyone from doing anything improper or illegal that it can benefit students.

“Teachers and other school staff must continually exercise extreme care when communicating online with students” (3)

Con: There are some concerns with the idea of encroaching on another’s privacy which can expand to even the college level, found in “Facebook Friending your Professors.” The article also states “However, Facebook is a relatively recent social development, and etiquette and political rules are not completely formed yet.”

What is interesting is the AB 1442 Bill which was recently signed into law which would have schools that obtain information on student social media experiences during their educational career destroy such information after the student leaves the district as a student. This deals with privacy of the individual and ensures that students are less likely to be affected by something they said as a teenager when being investigated by future employers. This brings into question how former friended teachers may continue to be privy to such information. I could not find anything written on that however.

To friend or not to friend: Teachers and students on Facebook

This is a news video where parents are interviewed and asked what their opinion is about teachers and students becoming friends on facebook.